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Abstract: Foodborne diseases are an important reason for diarrhoeal deaths among Indian children (<5 years). Since many foodborne illnesses arise from home kitchens, mothers can be the final line of defense. It was attempted to assess perceptions and practices of mothers on food safety. Quantitative data collected from respondents (n =90) using a Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices (KABP) questionnaire, showed that, over 90% wash hands before feeding children, eating, serving or cooking food, but usage of soap is very limited. Over 60% store leftover cooked foods at room temperature as a majority (82%) do not own refrigerators. High incidence of foodborne illnesses was reported in the families (21%) and the community (12%). Though 48% buy packed foods, a majority (78%) do not recognize symbols on food labels. Significant associations (p <0.05) were found between standard of living/literacy and certain food safety practices. Qualitative data obtained from three focus group discussions, reiterated most of the observations made in the survey. Television is the preferred medium to seek information on food safety. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In India, most of the diarrhoeal deaths among children (<5 years) are attributed to food and water contamination. Mothers are usually the final line of defence against food borne illnesses. Thus, the role of mothers in ensuring food safety at homes is well accepted. There are hardly any studies in India to understand their knowledge, attitudes and practices on food safety. The present study was an attempt in this direction. A total of 32 Focus Group Discussions were carried out with mothers of children <5 years in 16 districts from all the four South Indian states. The findings reveal that food safety awareness and practices are good among mothers perhaps due to the Indian food ethos passed on to them through generations. Home cooked foods are considered to be safer than prepared foods bought from outside. Many mothers were aware of the common food adulterants but do not bother to complain or take action. There is a need to create enabling environment with improved access to potable water, sanitation and cooking fuel. Spreading awareness about checking food labels and reporting to the health authorities in case of food poisoning or adulteration is also the need of the hour. The Anganwadi Centres can be the focal points for imparting food safety education to the mothers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Analyzes the plasma levels of vitamins A, E and C in more that 100 patients with different types of brian tumors. Conduction of a follow-up study on postoperative patients; Discovery of a small decrease of vitamins A and E and the same level of vitamin C in the patients; Comparison between preoperative and postoperative cases; Citation of the absence of changes of plasma antioxidant vitamins in brain tumor cases.

Undoubtedly, natural products with bioactive components such as fruits and berries from the Mediterranean areas are largely appreciated and highly consumed around the world due to their significance as possible novel therapeutical agents, with immense medicinal properties and a possible profound effect on health. According to epidemiological information, there were positive correlations of high consumption of fruits and berries with a low risk of various chronic diseases as these foods are rich sources of nutrients, and energy with a high content of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, polyphenols, and numerous other classes of biological active compounds. Apart from the functional role of fruits and berries on health, they may contain components which in turn lead to toxicity on some occasions, inducing mild or severe symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, paralysis, coma, or even death) that vary based on various factors such as dose, sensitivity of the individual and the way of exposure. Considering the above data, this paper aims to review the recent literature about the biological activities and therapeutic potentials, toxicity, and toxic components of selected Mediterranean fruits and berries, evaluating on the one hand the potential beneficial role of these foods, and on the other hand their possible toxic health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiO x containing diamond like carbon (DLC) films have been deposited on silicon and stainless steel substrates under varying influence of RF self bias (− 25 to − 225 V) using a capacitively coupled RF generated plasma of argon (Ar), methane (CH 4 ) and hexamethyl disiloxane (HMDSO) gases. The deposited coatings have been characterized by load depth sensing nano indentation, spectroscopic elliposometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Plasma has also been characterized by emissive probe and results indicate that impinging ion energy is mainly controlled by the self-bias values in this case. Characterization of deposited films indicate that sp 3 bonded carbon content in the films is increasing with the RF self bias values on the substrates. A clear improvement in the optical, mechanical properties of the deposited films is seen with the increasing magnitude of RF self-bias. It is seen that with increasing magnitude of bias values, C content increases continuously in these films at the expanse of Si and O content and they finally got close towards ideal diamond like character beyond − 150 V bias values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttria stabilized zirconia thin films have been deposited by RF plasma enhanced MOCVD technique on silicon substrates at substrate temperature of 400 °C. Plasma of precursor vapors of (2,7,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedionate) yttrium (known as Y(tod) 3 ), (2,7,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedionate) zirconium (known as Zr(tod) 4 ), oxygen and argon gases is used for deposition. To the best of our knowledge, plasma assisted MOCVD of YSZ films using octanediaonate precursors have not been reported in the literature so far. The deposited films have been characterized by GIXRD, FTIR, XPS, FESEM, AFM, XANES, EXAFS, EDAX and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Thickness of the films has been measured by stylus profilometer while tribological property measurement has been done to study mechanical behavior of the coatings. Characterization by different techniques indicates that properties of the films are dependent on the yttria content as well as on the structure of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Yttrium oxide thin films are deposited by RF Plasma MOCVD Process using Y(thd)3 precursor. [•] Films are deposited under varying influence of RF self-bias on the substrates during deposition (−50V to −175V). [•] It is possible to deposit single phase cubic Y2O3 films at low substrate temperature. [•] RF bias on substrate controls the texture of deposited film. [•] To the best of our knowledge, so far there is no reported study on the effect of RF substrate bias on properties of films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study an atmospheric glow discharge with a fluorocarbon gas as precursor was used to modify the surface of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS –[(CH3)2SiO] n –). The variation in protein immobilizing capability of PDMS was studied for different times of exposure. It was observed that the concentration of proteins adsorbed on the surface varied in an irregular manner with treatment time. The fluorination results in the formation of a thin film of fluorocarbon on the PDMS surface. The AFM and XPS data suggest that the film cracks due to stress and regains its uniformity thereafter. This Stranski–Krastanov growth model of the film was due to the high growth rate offered by atmospheric glow discharge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanoclusters of bimetallic Pt–Ru are electrochemically deposited on conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), which is also electrochemically deposited on a carbon paper substrate. The bimetallic deposition is carried out in an acidic electrolyte consisting of chloroplatinic acid and ruthenium chloride at 0.0V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE) on PEDOT coated carbon paper. A thin layer PEDOT on a carbon paper substrate facilitates the formation of uniform, well-dispersed, nano clusters of Pt–Ru of mean diameter of 123nm, which consist of nanosize particles. In the absence of PEDOT, the size of the clusters is about 251nm, which are unevenly distributed on carbon paper substrate. Cyclic voltammetry studies suggest that peak currents of methanol oxidation are several times greater on PtRu–PEDOT electrode than on Pt–Ru electrode in the absence of PEDOT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]